Players are leaving. Better start believing

by Blazerfan8825 on Dec 12, 2011 8:28 PM PST

Sad way to start a season..

With the terrible news earlier this week with Brandon Roy retiring, Greg Oden suffering ANOTHER set back,and Lamarcus Aldridge's heart problem, all there is left for us fans to do is believe. All of the NBA columnists are telling us it is a rebuilding year, or it is another "one and done" in the playoffs. Well for me, I don't see it as a rebuilding year. We had the same line-up at this time last year. No Brandon Roy or Greg Oden. The only difference is we have a much younger point guard in Raymond Felton than we did in Andre Miller. Also Rudy Fernandez was on the team last year, who we are better off without. Although Andre Miller was more skill minded, Raymond Felton will be a better option in the future. Despite how old and wise Andre Miller is, Raymond Felton is the next best thing. Like I was saying, our roster is pretty much the same from last year, but we have more athletic new players that will contribute more than Luke Babbit and Armon Johnson did last year. I am talking about Nolan Smith, Elliot Williams and Chris Johnson.

The Dukie. Nolan Smith

Most of you saw Nolan Smith's incredible season last year at Duke. He averaged 20.6 points and 5.1 assists with a 45.8 FG %. He was an All-American with the very skilled and talented Kemba Walker, Jimmer Freddete, Nolan Smith, Jared Sullinger, and JaJuan Johnson. Nolan Smith has a very smart basketball IQ and will be a big contributor off the bench behind Wesley Matthews and Elliot WIlliams.

Elliot Williams

As for Williams, he will be a humongous contributor. Last season, he didn't play in any games because of a knee surgery on both knees. Williams is very athletic, has tremendous hops, and is in good shape. His shooting from long range is a little rusty but that is alright.

The Tall stick. Chris Johnson

And then there is Chris Johnson. An energy builder in the games and a true hard worker in practice. Last year in the playoffs, Johnson provided a huge spark off the bench in the games against the NBA champions, the Dallas Mavericks. Chris is a pretty skinny boy. But he gained 20 pounds over this long off-season and he is stronger and will be a great guy when we need energy.

2011-2012 Roster so far..

Looking at this roster. I don't see how everyone is doubting us. It is the same people but..BETTER!

Armon Johnson

Luke Babbit

Marcus Camby

Nicolas Batum

Lamarcus Aldridge

Raymond Felton

Gerald Wallace

Elliot Williams

Chris Johnson

Wesley Matthews

And the newest Blazer... Kurt Thomas. (there is more but these are the ones not retiring and not hurt.)

Last season Playoffs

I will get to Kurt Thomas in a bit, just keep reading :) First, lets talk about our playoff performance last season. As you guys already know, the Dallas Mavericks beat us in the first round of the playoffs in 6 games. But! we gave them a good fight, with the amazing Game 4 4th quarter comeback and holding the champions to 6 games. The Mavericks said that we, the 6th seed in the western conference, were the toughest team they faced in the playoffs. That is saying something considering they played the big three in the Miami Heat in the finals. If we were the toughest team the "champions" faced than think of how good we will be this year!

Kurt Thomas

Now for the newest Blazer...Kurt Thomas. A 6'9 Center that played 52 games with the Bulls last season. Nate McMillan said it best, “We need experience. We need a big man. And we need someone who knows how to play," That is exactly what Kurt Thomas is. Off the bench, he will give us some good rebounds in place for Camby and Lamarcus when they need a rest. He is a great screen setter, and we will get a lot more open shots than we have been. His career stats aren't mind boggling but they will do. 7.6 PPG and 5.8 RPG. Not bad i guess. He sounds like a pretty good option off the bench. But i forgot to tell you he is the oldest player in the NBA at 39. With Camby, we will have the oldest rotation in the NBA! that isn't a good thing to be proud of. We will see if his age is a factor for this season.

Prediction

My prediction for this season is we will be a tad bit better than last, but not over the top. I believe we will still be the 6Th seed like last, but this time get out of the first round and then end in the second. Hopefully we progress a little but more as each season goes by. I am so excited for the season to start, and i hope that you guys do the same as me. Believe.

Poll

What is your prediction for this season?

30 or less wins (no playoffs)

13 votes

40 or less wins (no playoffs)

39 votes

50 or less (playoffs. first round and out)

115 votes

50 + (playoffs. more than first round)

72 votes

239 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 3 recs |

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Comments

How about 41 wins, 6th seed and a 1st round upset?

Then on to the second round, where we find a mismatch that Nate exploits and we win in 6. Then it’s the WCF. Tough matchup against the defending champs, but this time, J Kidd doesn’t hit three’s and can’t keep up with Felton. Wallace finds his groove along side LMA and we run the pony’s into the ground to win in 6.

Then we get embarrassed by the Heat in five. (had to wake up sometime)

"Per John Hollingers twitter - Over the final 12:45 of today's game, Brandon Roy's PER was 84.98" GM 4 vs Mavs

by blazinagain on Dec 12, 2011 9:20 PM PST reply actions

80 wins

We do so well stern extends the season.

by Blaze_that_trail on Dec 12, 2011 9:32 PM PST via mobile reply actions 2 recs

Potential and possibility lives!

Rec’d this as a needed dose of upbeat focus on our current team with perspective from last year to this.

Combine Nolan’s NBA readiness + Elliot’s knee recovery and we might just have ourselves an odd reincarnation of Royness (Reincarnation Era tm). Admit it – it would take 2 people to replace him right?

Tie down the furniture kids, it's time for another ride down Ulcer Gulch!

by DMKPDX on Dec 12, 2011 11:12 PM PST reply actions

30 or fewer

wins

by chickenmelt on Dec 13, 2011 1:02 AM PST reply actions

With only 66 games,

it’s going to be hard to win 50. Still, I believe we will make it to the playoffs and get past the first round.

by Kevlar Rocket on Dec 13, 2011 9:15 AM PST reply actions

That poll is a bit skewed

40 wins in 66 games means you’ll make the playoffs even in the west. One thing to add, We essentially replaced Rudy with Wallace and Miller with Felton and The plethora of arcahic bigmen with Kurt Thomas. The latter two are probably a wash talent wise but Wallace is much better than Rudy. We will be a 5-6th seed this year maybe 4th. Dallas will step backwards, LAL unless they get a superstar will falter slightly as will the Spurs with age, OKC will be about he same, Denver will be hobled by its MIA players, and Utah is a fringe playoff team at best. Are the Clippers, Phoenix, Golden state, Rocvkets, Kings or wolves going to threaten us with a surge over last years performances. Maybe the Warrriors improve but I don’t see them over taking us. The West is in decline excepting OKC and the bottom feeders. We at least are neutral in positioning but we need to remake our assent before the rest of the West does the same.

We could easily get to

by NWfan on Dec 13, 2011 9:56 AM PST reply actions

Whoops.

Sorry, I forgot there was only a 66 game season when i made the poll.

Follow me on twitter! @blazerfan8825

by Blazerfan8825 on Dec 13, 2011 3:39 PM PST up reply actions

50+ wins

Last year we would have got to 50 had Roy not returned and disrupted the flow. It also took some time for Wallace to fit in as well. This year will be just like last. No Oden, No Roy, Alridge is fine. The difference is, we have one more year of experience. One thing that is concerning is that we are without Andre Miller. Hopefully Felton Spencer will pick up where he left off. I like our chances to make it out of the first round.

by grayhuze on Dec 13, 2011 10:13 AM PST reply actions